A/n- I love writing this story. Hope you like reading it as much as i like writing it!
"Alright everyone, that's enough for tonight. Let's meet again tomorrow." Said Toph. She said goodbye to everyone and walked out into the cold night.
"Bei Fong!" Eri bended a small rock in Toph's direction. She felt him moving the earth and stopped the rock before it reached her. "Man, no one can sneak up on you, huh?"
"Most people don't want to try." Said Toph with a smirk. Eri laughed "I can believe that!" They walked together for a few minutes until Eri broke the silence. "You know Toph, when I first met you, I couldn't stand you!"
"Psh, I wasn't too fond of you either." said Toph.
"I know, I know." Eri said with a roll of his eyes. "But ever since I met you, I admired how brave and courageous you are. Nothing scares you!"
"You got that right." Toph grinned.
"But, even after all you did to help Avatar Aang end the war, you were still pretty immature back then." Eri said with a smile.
"Hmph. So I was."
"No! What I was saying was that you've changed so much! Now, you're the best leader I know! Everyone listens to your opinions. And, well, frankly, you're a lot easier to get along with than you were back then."
"Am I?" asked Toph as she punched Eri on the arm.
"Ouch- your punches still hurt though!" Both benders couldn't stop from laughing at that remark. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm glad you're here, in Omashu, with us. If anything bad were to happen, I think all of us feel better knowing you're around to help."
"Well, you're not too bad yourself, Eri" Toph said with a smile. "You've had few good moments."
"Whatever, Bei Fong. You know I've had more than a few." Eri said. To prove himself, Eri lifted the ground in front of where Toph was walking to try and trip her. She quickly felt him lift the small amount of earth and pushed it over, so the ground tripped Eri instead.
He smiled at his failed attempt to catch Toph off guard. "I need to practice bending faster!" he admitted.
"Try your tricks on someone else. They won't work on me. I see everything!"
Eri shook his head and looked around. "I know." He wondered what it was like to be blind. His curiosity got the best of him and he couldn't help asking, "Toph, what's it like being blind?"
She stopped walking for a minute and gestured to all the buildings around them. "I've always been blind. So the way I see is normal to me. It's always been that way. I see with my feet. I see all the people and buildings you see. Actually, I see better than you. I can tell when people are moving and when they're bending. I can see which direction they're bending in, and where it's going to go."
"So that's how you block all my attacks so easily!" Eri marveled. "That's amazing!"
"That's why I can fight- and defeat- anyone." Toph said. "I can see everything they do." Eri nodded and continued walking. He thought about all the amazing things Toph could do-all without using her eyes.
They continued walking for a few more blocks. "I have a bad feeling about this bandit we're after. I hope we catch them before they rob any more stores."
"Me too, Eri. Don't worry. We'll catch them. We always do!"
They were approaching Toph and Liang's apartment. Kids were running all around the streets and playing games before it got too dark. Most of the shops and food stalls on the block were closing up for the night. As they walked to the door of Toph's home, she could feel Eri walking up behind her. "Don't you have to go home?" She felt his heartbeat quickening.
"I was w-wondering… if Liang was home?" he asked.
"Yeah. I can feel her walking around in there."
"Could you see if she'll come out and talk for a little while?"
"Why don't you see for yourself, lover boy?" Toph smirked and opened the door to the apartment. "Liang, I'm home! With a guest!" Liang walked out into the small living room. Once she saw it was Eri, her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
"I'll leave you two alone…" said Toph. Both Eri and Liang's faces turned bright red at her comment.
"No, Toph… you can stay. I was just cutting some vegetables. For dinner!" Liang said.
"Like I'll be any help with that! I can't even see the damn vegetables!" Liang and Eri started laughing as the three of them walked into the kitchen. Toph could smell the aroma of freshly cooked vegetables as she entered the kitchen. Liang was a lousy earthbender, but she could cook delicious meals. Toph could tell that Eri's presence was making Liang nervous. Her heartbeat sped up whenever Eri looked at her.
I can't believe Eri came here just to visit me, thought Liang. He's so handsome and funny… Liang could feel herself blushing as she remembered seeing Eri shirtless, dripping with sweat after a challenging earthbending match last week. She busied her thoughts with the stew she was preparing and tried not to think about the man standing two feet away from her.
Wow, Liang is a great cook thought Eri as he watched Liang expertly chop the vegetables and add seasonings to the stew. Her face turned an alluring shade of light pink as she caught Eri watching her. She is so beautiful... thought Eri.
"Why did the lion-bear cross the road?" began Eri. An hour has passed since he arrived and the three earthbenders were eating dinner together in Toph and Liang's tiny kitchen. Toph rolled her eyes at Eri's lame humor. She grabbed her bowl and deposited it into the sink. "Night, Liang. Bye Eri." Toph said. "I'm going to sleep."
Liang quickly glanced up from her conversation with Eri. "Toph, you're going to bed so early?" she asked with a frown. "We were going to play a game!"
"I'm tired." She stated, simply. She was tired after such a long day. But she was also tired of Eri's jokes and the way Liang giggled at each one. She needed a break from the lovebirds.
Liang watched Toph walk upstairs and wondered if she had done something to upset her. "I hope Toph isn't mad at us" she said.
"No, she just has a lot to deal with. Always devising ways to catch bandits and outsmart the thieves that arise here in Omashu. She's quite the leader." Eri said, proudly. Liang smiled at him. She was proud of Toph too.
"I know Toph can get frustrated sometimes, and she's a bit impatient, but she really knows what's best for us." Eri said. "We're both a little worried about the future, but I know if we all work together, we can stop anything."
Liang admired the way Eri was so confident about everything. She blushed when he looked at her.
Eri admired the patient and trusting way Liang looked at him. He took hold of Liang's hand. "Whatever happens in the future, Liang, I'll protect you, too." He face turned bright red at Eri's comment and he smiled at her. "Sorry for being so serious all of a sudden. I was just thinking about a lot of things."
"It's o-okay" said Liang. She was a bit surprised by Eri's declaration, but it made her happy, too. "B-by the way, I meant to ask you... Toph got a letter today." Liang walked over to the front door and picked up the letter from the nearby table it was sitting on. "I think it's from the Northern Water Tribe." She handed Eri the crisp letter printed on light blue paper.
"This is definitely from the Northern Water Tribe." he said. "You can tell by the seal." It was sealed by an intricate design of two interlocked koi fish.
"Do you know who it's from?" he asked.
"I have no idea! I was going to ask you." she relied, confused. "I don't know why anyone would send Toph a letter since she can't even read it." Liang took the letter from Eri and held it tightly in her hands. "I should probably go give it to her. I could read it if she wants me to..."
"It could be important. You should give it to her." he said. "It's getting pretty late, so I must get going home. My sister is going to start worrying about me."
Liang laughed as she pictured Yora pacing around the house, wondering what was taking her older brother so long to get home. "Knowing Yora, she's probably be worried for a few minutes then get distracted by something else." Liang said with a smile. Eri returned her smile and walked over so he was in front of her.
"Good night Liang," he said quietly, leaning in as he closed his eyes. Liang quickly stepped to the side before Eri could kiss her and mumbled, "...'night Eri." before turning around and walking upstairs. She felt her face getting hot and mentally scolded herself for reacting in that way. Eri is kind. He would never hurt you... She thought. Why do you avoid a boy who tries so hard to win you over? She asked herself. Liang reached Toph's room and placed the letter on the table her bed. Then, she quietly walked to her own room. I have to learn to trust again, thought Liang as she wiped a tear from her eye.
Toph awoke to the sound of someone leaving her room. Must be Liang, she thought. Toph reached to her bedside table to take a drink of water from the glass that she usually kept there. Instead, he fingers brushed against a thick piece of folded paper. A letter? Wondered Toph as she held the small piece of paper. This must be a letter. But from who? Who would send me a letter? Toph mentally went through a list of people who could have possibly sent the letter. The only people she could think of were Haru and maybe The Duke. Suki and Sokka were busy with their young son. Katara and Aang wouldn't bother sending a letter. They would just visit Toph if they wanted to see her. And Toph hardly corresponded with old sparky, since he had many duties to the Fire Nation which took up all his time. There was only one person who would send a letter.
"Rei." Toph whispered.
A/n-Please review! I'd love to know what you're thinking about the characters and the story so far.
Who is this "rei" character you wonder? Guess you shall find out in the next chapter! =)